Floating bridge.



PATBNTBD NOV. 24, 1903.

H. KAMPMANN; FLOATING BRIDGE.

APPLIOATION rum) MAR. 9. 1903.

no MODEL.

i atented hfovember 24, 1903.

PATENT OFFIQE.

HERMANN KAMPMANN, OF KREIS ESSEN, GERMANY.

FLOATING BRIDGE. V

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters iPatent No. 745,192, datedNovember 24, 1903. Application filed March 9, 1903. Serial No. 147,024.(No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN KAMPMANN, a citizen of the German Empire,and a resi-' dent of Kupferdreh, Kreis Essen, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Floating Bridges, ofwhich thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in floating or pontoon bridgeswhere the pontoons are made turnable and easily removable, the object ofthe said improvements being to overcome certain disadvantages connectedwith the systems hitherto in use and to allow an easy exchange ofpontoons. One of the said disadvantages is the necessity of bringing anypontoons that may need repair ing ashore, thus interruptingcommunication and rendering the cost of repair disproportionately high.By making useof my invention these difficulties are avoided, a greaterdurability is secured to the pontoons, and the latter can be betterattended to. I attain these objects by the construction and arrangementsillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a lengthview of a pontoon and a cross View of the roadway carried by the samewith portions of the pontoon removed to show the construction inside;Fig. 2,a crosssection, on a larger scale, showing more particularly thearrangement on the top; Fig. 3, a rear view of the pontoon; Fig. l, atop View of the bridge with arrangement for opening the same to allowthe passage of vessels, and Figs. 5 and 6 the arrangement of myimprovements where the construction carried by the pontoon is made oftimber.

Each pontoon (a tubular cylinder) is divided by partitions or bulkheadsb, provided with manholes a, into several water-tight compartments andis surrounded on the outside by a couple or more steel hoops c, firmlyattached, and with flanges provided with eyes, the number of the hoopsbeing dependent on the size of the bridge. Over each hoop there is asaddle d, the vertical sides being fastened to the hoop by bolts 6,while the top carries the bridge. This saddle (1 comprises the verticalshank and the lower portion d,.fitted within the flanges of the hoop c,and the reinforcing-plates or angle-irons d all as seen clearly in Fig.2. The roadway is supported upon the vertical shank and the upperangleirons, as seen clearly in said Fig. 2. On disburdening the pontoonon top, which may be done by screwjacks resting on friction-rollers andset in below the length-joists of the bridge or by any other suitablemeans, and retracting the bolt it can be turned round and will allow aclose inspection or repair or new coating of the portion not in thewater. The hoop, as sliding-track, should be kept greasy.

If a pontoon has become irreparable and unfit for use, it may beexchanged for a new one by removing the connecting-bolt e, filling theinside of the vessel with water, so that it will get loose from theroadway of the bridge, and put another suitably-ballasted pontoon in itsplace. After pumping the ballast-water out of the new vessel and settingthe bolt e in its proper place the bridge can be used again. This way ofexchanging or setting in pontoons is of special importance for'bridgesfor which there is not much time for their construction-for instance,military bridges. By keeping such pontoons in readiness a bridge can bebuilt within a comparatively short time by taking the pontoons and aquantity of timber, the hoops of the pontoon forming the support of theroadway. Moreover, there is no risk of hurting the pontoon by rolling itto the' place where it is to be put to use. I

The manholes are provided in the vertical rear portion and inthepartitions in such way that one manhole is always above thewaterlevel, and thus at all times accessible. The purpose of providingthe said holes in the perpendicular downstream or rear end of thepontoon instead of in the sides is the easy access in cases of highwater, an advantage missing in the old constructions, because the sidesare lying in the stream, while the stern is in the quiet water, andtherefore better suited for going on board.

It being impracticable to mount the wind-- ing-engine for the opening ofthe bridge on I any of the tu rnable pontoons, there has been ICC)bridge aside to allow the passage of vessels running from the engine tothe fore end of one of the pontoons after passing a roller attached toan anchor't'in the ground. On the other side of the roadway there isanother projecture with another Windlass, all like the former,to affordprotection against the pressure of the wind. The winding-engine beingplanted on suitable foundation, it aitords the bridge warden a bettersurvey over the bridge. Besides, the tnrnability is considerablyfacilitated, because the point where the power has to set in is nearerto the point of gravity of the bridge.

If wood is-applied for the structure to be carried by the pontoons, themain joist, which in Figs. 5 and 6 on the drawings is a round timber,rests immediately upon the bands or hoops cand is held in its positionby flat iron cramps 70, four for each band, which are fastened to thelatter by means of bolts Z, while the bent-in points are driven into thetimber. Between the latter and the pontoon a screwbolt m connects thecramp-irons about in their middle with each other, pressing themtogether and preventing an accidental getting loose.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent,is-

1. A floating bridge supported by closed pontoons which are arrangedturnable round their longitudinal axis so that each pontoon can beturned round to allow an inspection of all parts and particularly thosewhich had been under water and to permit further an easy exchange ofpontoons--all without interruption in the use of the bridge,substantially as set forth hereinabove.

2. A turnable pontoon, divided by partitions into several water-tightcompartments, said partitions having manholes,the said holes being not,however, in the sides of the vessel, but in the rear end, substantiallyas above described.

3. A turnable pontoon comprising a tubular section, a flanged hoopsurrounding the same, a saddle supported within the flanges of saidhoop, and means detachably securing said saddle to the hoop to permit ofits being turned upon the tubular section.

4. A turnable pontoon comprising a tubular section, a flanged hoopsurrounding the same, a saddle supported within the flanges of saidhoop, means detachably securing said saddle to the hoop to permit of itsbeing turned upon the tubular section, and a sup port for a roadwaycarried by said saddle.

5. A turnable pontoon comprising a tubular section, a flanged hoopsurrounding the same, a saddle supported within the flanges of saidhoop, means detachably securing said saddle to the hoop to permit of itsbeing turned upon the tubular section, a support for a roadway carriedby said saddle, and a cable or chain attached to said section.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twowitnesses.

HERMANN KA MPMANN.

